Method for the treatment and utilization of scrap or waste leather



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

SAMUEL CHARLES LANSDOWN, Oi MELBOURNE, AND PHILIP MAGNETS, OF NORTH FITZROY, NEAR MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

' METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT AND UTILIZATION OF SCRAP 0B WASTE LEATHER.

No Drawing.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

Application filed October 14, 1918. Serial No. 258,108.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT 0! MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. 1., 1813.)

.ment in Methods for the Treatment and Utilization of Scra or Waste Leather, (for which we have led application in'Australia, application No. 5544, Oct. 19, 1917,) of which the following is a specification.

At the present time scrap leather leftover from the manufacture of different leatherarticles is wasted and it is with the object of regenerating this waste product so as to use the same as a commercial and marketable product that our invention has been devised.

After treatment as hereinafter described, the resultant product can be cut into various lengths, sizes and shapes, so as to beutilized for the purpose for which leather is at present used, but principally for boot and shoe leather. In achieving the object of our invention we first of all take any predetermined quantity of scrap or waste leather and by the aid of suitable-machinery grind or reduce the sameto a coarse powder. The powdered scrap leather is then placed in a shallow tank of tepid water containing a percentage say about two of oxalic acid.

v .The object of using oxalic acid is for the purpose of cleansing the powdered waste leather and destroying any impurities that may be contained therein. The mass is then gently stirred and placed in a further tank for further washing.

The admixture of oxalic acid and water, besides cleansing the scrap powdered leather forms it into a gelatinous mass.

It is then taken from the second tank and allowed to slowly dry in a shady place.

The next step in the process is to mix with the cleansed powdered scrap leather, an adhesive which will have the purpose of comingling the various particles together and after pressure to form a solidified mass of great strength and to render waterproof. It is also necessary to add to the powdered mass certain chemicals, which will have the efiect of keeping the manufactured leather in an exceedingly dry state and in a state im rvious to water or mould. v

o manufacture an adhesive or cement for binding the articles together and renv dering the manu actured artlcle waterproof we mix with the gelatinous mass of scrap leather the following chemicals, in or about the. pro ortions enumerated. l (1) iquid glue 85%; (2) boiled linseed oil 10%; (3) carbolized oil'2%%; (4) oil of 'cloves 2%%- The two former chemicals act as an adhesive and water-proofing, whilst the latter two will keep the regenerated leather when manufactured in a'dry state.

The chemicals are intermixed together whilst in a hot state which is occasioned by the reduction of the solidglue to a liquid state and a s'ufiicient quantity of the cleansed ground leather is mixed therewith to form a plastic mass. When in this state the mass is run or placed into suitable moulds of any desired shape or size and submitted to hy draulic ressure of about 4 tons per square 7 inch, he pressure as will be understood, 1 forms the plastic mass into solid sheets or pieces.

The sheets are then removed from the moulds and allowed to dry in the atmosphere, the sheets soles or heels and the like can be manufactured into any size or shape for anv specific purpose.

Claim:

An improved method of and means for the treatment and utilization of scrap or waste leather consisting of reducing the same to a coarse powder, cleansing the powdered leather with-oxalic acid adding thereto an adhesive and drying composition consistin .of liquid glue, boiled linseed oil, carbolize PHILIP IAGIUS.

Witnesses:

Wranum Farmers Gunman, Vromn Macros. 

